Improvement in grain-binders



I 6 Sfleets-Sheet 1. J. HOWARD 8v E. T. BOU-SFIEL-D.

Grain-Binder. No. 218,974.

Patented Aug. 26,1879.

9 Jill/e71 Z 07 J: 9 9

NJ'EIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D 0.

I 6 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. HOWARD & E.-T. BOUSFIELIL Grain-Binder. No.218,974. Patent'edAug. 26, 1879*.

.fiwmfonsv N,PETER$. PHOTO-UTHOGRIWHER. WASHINGTON, D C

6 Sheet s-Sheet 3.

J.- HOWARD & E. T. BOUSFIELD. Grain Bindeir. No. 218,974. Patented Aug.26, 1879.

",PEI'ERS, FHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D, G

' 6 Sheet s-Sheet 4.

J. HOWARD 8v E. T. BOUSI'IELD. Grain-Binder.

:No. 218,974. Patented Aug. 26, 1879.

".FEIERB, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHEE WASHINGTON D C 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. J. HOWARD&. E. T. BOUSFIELD.

Grain-Binder Patented Aug. 26,1879.

fizz/entomwdj mm 7 PETERS. PHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTOQNF a:

- 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. J. HOWARD & E. T. BOUSPIEL-D.

Grain-Binder.

No. 218,974. )9 Patented 25g. 26,1879.

N.FE|ERS, PHOTO-LIYHOQRABNER, WASHXNGTON, D. C

. form the sheaves or bundles.

UNITED STATES PATENT O'EEIoEi JAMES HOWARD AND EDWARD T. BOUSFIELD, OFBEDFORD, BEDFORD COUNTY, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-BINDERS.

Specification-forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,9'74, dated August26, 1879; application filed June 3, 1879; patented in England,fleptember 20, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that \V6,'JAMES HOWARD and EDWARD TENNEY BOUSFIELD, both ofBed,

ford, England, have invented new and useful Improvements inSheaf-Binding Mechanisms, chiefly designed to be used as an attachmentto a reaping-machine, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in mechanism or apparatus chieflydesigned to be attached to a reaping or harvesting machine forautomatically separating the corn or grain deposited on the sheaftableof the said machine into sheaves or bundles, and binding and securingthe same with wire or other suitable material, but which apparatus mayalso be arranged to operate as an independent or separate sheaf-bindingmachine, to gather up and bind the grain or corn after the same has beencut by a harvesting-machine or otherwise.

The objects of the said invention are simplicit-y of constructioncombined with eificiency in operation and diminished liability toderangement of the parts of such machines.

Our invention is carried into practice in the following manner-that isto say, we provide the machine with asheaf-table, upon which the corn orgrain is delivered from the platform in any convenient manner, and whichis adjustable lengthwise to permit the band or wire to be placed aroundthe sheaves in any desired part or position of the same; but when themachine is in operation the said table is stationarythat is to say, ithas no reciprocating or other movement on the frame of the machine forthe purpose of collecting or separating the grain or crop intoquantities to We effect this separation of the grain by the action of abinding or binder-arm operatingin a peculiar manner, as hereinafter setforth. This arm has its fulcrum on the pin of a crank fixed on theextremity of a shaft which rotates in suitable bearings in a standard orbracket attached to the said sheaf-table.

For effecting theremoval of thebound sheaves from the table, we preferto attach to the said crank a pusher or delivering-arm. We also providethe said machine with an improved twisting device, whichis apeculiarly-formed whirl or pinion, flanged on its upper side, andsupported with a capability of free rotation by its flange in a groovedor recessed plate attached to the sheaf-table, the said whirl beingarranged in combination with a revolving knife or cutter, as hereinafterset forth.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved sheaf-binding mechanism.Fig. 2 is a plan or top view, partly in section, and with a portion ofthe sheaf table broken away to show the mechanism below the same. Fig. 3is an end elevation, partly in transverse section on the line 00 w, andshowing the binder-arm in the same position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is anend elevation, showing the binder-arm in its highest position. Fig. 5 isan end elevation, partly in transverse section, of a portion of the saidmechanism slightly modified. Figs. 6 to 13 illustrate the mechanism foroperating the twisting device.

The other figures show detached portions and modifications of ourinvention, and are hereinafter described.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

a is the foundation-plate of the binding mechanism, and forms the sheaf-table, upon which the grain falls from the elevators. Fixed on thistable is the bracket or standard I), which carries the binding arm orneedle and the upper bobbin, while the mechanism for driving the saidbinding-arm and the twist ing and. cutting devices are arranged underthe said table.

The bracket b extends over the table, as shown, in such a manner as toallow a clear space for the grain to pass under it. This bracket carriesin suitable bearings 0 c a shaft, d.

The bearing a has extended from it an arm, 0 carrying the upper bobbin,e.

The shaft 61 receives motion from the shaft f, below the table, throughthe chain or pitch wheel f on the shaft f, the pitch-chain f whichpasses around the said wheel, and the chain-wheel g.

The shaft f is driven through suitable gear-' 2 also ing from the maindriving-wheel of the machine, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, Fig. 14 beinga sectional elevation drawn to a reduced scale, and Fig. 15 a plan ofthe portions of the said machine.

To insure the most satisfactory results in the working of our improvedbinding mechanism, it is necessary to impart to the binderarm a peculiarvarying or differential motion-- that is to say, it should move quicklyin placing the wire around the sheaf, and should pause or remainstationary, or nearly so, during the operation of the twisting andcutting mechanism, and should then rise quickly to draw up the wire fora fresh sheaf.

This peculiar movement of the. binder-arm may be imparted to it byvarious devices or arrangements; but we prefer to use the arrangementillustrated in the drawings, and which we will now describe.

The pitch or chain wheel 9 is not fixed or mounted upon the shaft 01,but upon a short shaft or journal, 9 fitted to turn independently of andeccentrically to the said shaft in a bearing in the bracket 1). Thiswheel communicates motion to the said shaft through the intervention ofa crank, h, keyed on the latter, the pin h, Fig, 4, of which crank worksin the slot 9 in the Wheel g. The other end of the shaft (1 carries acrank, i. The binding-arm j has its fulcrum or pivot on the pin of thiscrank,-and the end j of the said arm is connected by a radius rod orlink, 70, to a fixed point, 0*, which may be any suitable part of thebracket or arm, as shown. This mechanism, consisting of the crank '5 andradius-rod 7c, connected, as described, with the binding-arm j, causesthe point or extremity j of the said arm to move in the required path;and it will be readily understood that when this mechanism is combinedwith the slotted wheel 9 and crank h, as shown, the eccentricity of thesaid wheel to the shaft d will cause the speed of the latter to bevaried, and, consequently, the binder-arm will move through its pathwith a varyingor differential action, as above specified.

Fig. 45* is a section on the line 00*, Fig. 1.

The said binder-arm, on its inner edge, is preferably formed with aconvexity or protuberance,j*, which assists in vcompressing or holdingthe sheaves while the band is being passed around them. WVith thisconstruction and arrangement of the said binding mechanism we areenabled to dispense with the separate jointed compressor or compressingbar or lever commonly employed, and the binderarm is not encumbered withsprings or other parts liable to derangement. This bindingarm has agroove, j in its back for thewire from the upper bobbin, 0, to lie in,and the wire is retained therein by small pins or guards, as shown at j.The free or pointed end j of the binding-arm is, in some instances,furnished with two pulleys or rollers, 9' j, for the purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The spool or bobbin 0 is provided with a take-up device. (Represented inFig. 1, and shown detached and drawn to an enlarged scale in Figs. 16and 17.) Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 17 a transversesection on the line as as, Fig. 16. This take-up device is constructedand combined with the said spool or bobbin in the following manner-thatis to say: The spool or reel 0, upon which the binding-wire is wound, isfirmly secured upon a sleeve, 0 by the nuts 0 Thewhole is free torevolve upon the spindle 6 which is secured to the arm 0 of thebinding-arm bracket. 6 is a box containing a spiral spring, 6*, alsoloose upon the spindle 6 The said spring is attached by one end to thebox 0", and by the other end to the sleeve a. box 6, and is fixed to anadjustable hook at the top of the binding-arm bracket. This hook may beraised or lowered by means of the nuts 6 to tighten or slacken the band,and thereby give the required tension to the bindingwire. When the wireis drawn from the said reel by the descent of the binder-arm j, thereel, with the sleeve 0', to which it is firmly secured, revolves inthedirection to give off the wire, and in this movement first coils up thespring. The further descent of the binder arm revolves the spring box 6around which is passed the adjustable friction-band 0 As the binding-armj rises from the sheaf -table the slack of the wire is taken up by theuncoiling or opening of the spiral spring 0*, which then causes thewire-reel to rotate in the opposite direction. I

Attached to the crank 'i is a delivery-arm, l, which assists to removethe bound sheaves from the table a. Below this table a we arrange thetwisting device and mechanism for This twisting device operating thesame. consists of a flanged whirl or pinion, m, supported by its flange'm* in an annular groove or recess in the plate m, attached to thelowerside of the table a, as clearly shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, which aresectional side elevations of the said whirl and adjacent parts. Fig. 13is a plan or top view of the said whirl, these figures 'bein g drawn toan enlarged scale.

By this arrangement the said whirl is. supported with a capability of.free rotation clear of any obstruction below its support or bearing inthe said plate.

Gearing with this whirl is a wheel, a, and on the shaft or spindle n*thereof is a pinion, 0. This shaft or spindle is fitted to turn freelyin bearings in the table a, and in a bracket, n, pendent from the lowerside of the said table.

Figs. 6 to 9 illustrate in detail the construction and arrangement ofour apparatus for giving motion to the whirl.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 are plans of the segmental rack and the pinion gearedwith the same. This segmental rack, which consists of a A brake-band,U", is passed around the 'to'othed are or segment on the rim of .the

wheel 19, has a continuous circular or rotary motion imparted to it fromthe shaft f through the miter-wheel f fixed on the said shaft, and whichgears with a similar wheel, 19 fixed or formed on the wheel 19. andturning with the same on the studor shaft 19*. The length of the saidare or segment is sufficient to give the required number of revolutionsthrough the pinions 0 and n-to the whirl m.. On the upper surface of thewheel 1) is a raised rim, 19 which, however, does not extend along, thetoothed portion or segment of the said wheel. Upon the pinion 0 is aflange or projection with two surfaces, land 2, which fit against theaforesaid rim of the wheel 1, and prevent the rotation of the pinion 0when the teeth of the segment are out of gear with the said pinion. Thesaid wheel 10 has on it two striking shoulders or lugs, 3 and4,'arranged to act upon a shoulder, 5, on the pinion 0, as herein--after described.

In this arrangement the wire-guide or carrier lever it passes under. thewhirl, and 0011- ducts thereto the wire from the lower bobbin, and astriking pin or piece, 6 on the wheel p, at the proper moment pushes thesaid lever to one side of the whirl. The said lever is brought back toits normal position by an opposing spring.

We may modify thisapparatus by adopting the arrangementillustrated inFigs. 18, 19, 20', 21. Fig. 18 is a sectional plan of this arrangementof our apparatus. Fig. 19 is an elevation. Fig. 20 is an elevation,partly in transverse section, on the line y y, Fig. 19; and Fig. 21 is atransverse section of a portion of the said mechanism detached.

In this arrangement motion is given to the pinion o by a straightreciprocating rack and a counteracting-spring -that is to say, the rack19 gears with the said pinion, and is moved in one direction by arevolving cam, g, on the shaft f, and in the opposite direction by thespring 1"; but we prefer to employ the rotary segmental rack.

It will be seen in Figs. 18 and 19 that the lower bobbin, 8, is mountedin a convenient position below the table a. For bringing the wire intothe proper position in relation to the whirl we fix a cam,.t, on theshaft f, and arrange this cam in connection with the levers u and c. Oneshoulder or projection, t of this cam acts on the lever n, which is theguide or carrier of the wire from the lower spool.- The other shoulder,25 of the said cam acts on the lever c, on the lower end of the spindleo, and thereby communicates motion from the lever r on the upper end ofthis spindle, and through suitable connecting levers, to the lever to,immediately above the table, and which brings the upper wire to thewhirl and insures its engaging properly with the same. This arrangementis clearly shown in Figs. 18 and 21.. a

We have found it very desirable to provide means for giving to thecutter m considerable momentum or impetus at the moment when the wire iscut, and for this purpose we place on the shaft of the wheel a, whereonthe said outter is fixed, a small fly-wheel, 2.

We have also found it desirable to employ,

in combination with the lower bobbin or spool,

and is kept in contact therewith by the spring 8 attached by one end tothe bracket s and by its other end to the brake'lever s. This spring isregulated to exert sufficient pressure on the brake to prevent theaccidental or too free uncoiling of the wire from the said spoolexceptat the moment when the binder-arm rises, at which moment the armf, Fig. 3, on the shaft f strikes the brake-lever s and raises the brakes from the spool, thus allowing the wire to uncoil or run oif freelyfrom the spool to permit the required quantity to be taken therefrom. Weprefer to combine with this intermittent brake means for obtainingaslight continuous pressure on the spool to prevent its accidentallygiving off any of its wire when the brake s. is raised. For this purposewe employ a smallspiral-spring presser, as shown ate, or a flat spring,as shown at 8 arranged to bear 011 the spool, or any other suitabledevice.

In commencing to work with our improved binding mechanism the Wire fromthe upper bobbin is threaded through the groove at the back of thebinding-arm and passed over the roller or rollers at the extremity orpoint of the saidarm, and by handis twisted with the end of the wirefrom the lower bobbin, which wire has been previously passed up throughthe small hole in the guide-leveru,a11d through the slot or aperturein.the table a. If the wheel or rack 19 is now supposed to be in theposition shown in Fig. 6, and the wire is engaged with the whirl in itsnotch nearest the point of the binding-arm, the further movement of thewheel 1) causes the shoulder 4 to;

act against the'shoulder5 on the pinion 0 and effect a partialrevolution of the latter, bringing itsconcave face 1 against the rim ofthe wheel p, and turning the face 2 from the same, i

The said binding-arm now descends, inclos es the sheaf, and passes thewire around the said sheaf to the whirl and into the other notch of thesame, which is now in the position previously occupied by the firstnotch, and the wire will then be in the position shown in Fig. 11.During the descent of the binding-arm the wheel or segment has traveledto the position shown in Fig. 8 to engage with the pinion 0, and duringthe pause or slow movement of the binder-arm, produced by the mechanismthat operates the same, as above described, the said segment moves ingear with the said pinion, and thereby causes the whirl to rotate andtwist the wire above and below the whirl, as shown in Fig. 12. At themoment when the twist is completed the cutter 00, attached to andrevolving with the shaft of the pinion 0, passes under the whirl andsevers the two wires, leaving the wires from the top and bottom bobbinunited at the lower twist, ready to be drawn up when the binder-armrises to recommence the above operations for binding the next sheaf.

It will be seen that the said lower twist is just above the upper sideof the guide-lever a, the hole in which is too small to allow thetwisted wire to pass through the same. As the binder-arm rises the stud6 in the wheel 1) strikes the lever u and throws it into the po sitionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 12. This movement of the said lever hasthe ett'ect of drawing sufficient wire from the lower bobbin, 8, tobring the lower twist above the whirl when the lever to has returned toits normal position, the free movement of the bobbin at this momentbeing permitted by the brake s, as above described.

If the intermittent brake s is not used in connection with the lowerbobbin the aforesaid rollers in the extremity or point of thebinding-arm will serve to bring the joined or inter-twisted wires abovethe table and clear of the whirl. In this case the upper wire is passedover the small supplementary rollerin the point of the binding-arm, andthe angle thus formed in the upper wire causes sufficient friction ortension thereon to insure the requisite quantity of wire being takenfrom the lower bobbin.

When we desire to bind with a single wire in our improved mechanism, wedispense with the lower bobbin and the appliances connected therewith,as above described, and make use of a clip or clamping deviceconstructed and arranged to secure the end of the wire to permit theloops of the same to be formed. This clip has two jaws. The upper jawterminates in a hook, and is provided with a shoulder, against which thewire is cut. The lower jaw consists of a spring made concave to presentan opening for the wire. This clip is arranged. in combination with afinger which forces the Wire into the whirl.

What we claim is- 1.'The combination of parts consisting of thebinding-arm j, pivoted on a crank, 'i, above the sheaf-table a, andconnected by a link, k, to afixed stud, the shaft 4, the crank h, andthe slotted chain-wheel g, whose axis is eccentric to the said shaft,all arranged and operatin g substantially as set forth, whereby the saidcrank is caused to impart to the binding-arm its peculiar differentialmovement, as and for the purpose above specified.

2. The chain-wheel g, mounted upon ashort journal and having a slot, 1and the crank h of the binder-operating shaft, having apin, h, adaptedto work freely in the said slotted wheel, in combination with mechanismfor connecting and driving the binder-arm shaft from the maindriving-shaft through the said slot-andcrank connection, substantiallyas herein set forth.

3. The segmental rack-wheel 1), having the raised segmental rim p andthe shoulders or lugs 3 and 4, in combination with the wiretwistingdevice and its operating pinion 0, having a double concave bearing, 1and 2, and a shoulder, 5, adapted to receive the action of thewheel-lugs, whereby to effect the partial revolution of the pinion tobring the said bearin g concaves in position as looks upon therack-wheel rim to prevent the rotation of the said pinion and of thetwisting-whirl when the rack of said wheel is out of gear.

4. The wire-severing cutter 00, arranged upon an independent shaft, awhich carries the pinion 0, which gears with the twisting-whirl gear m,in combination with a fly-wheel, 2, upon said shaft, whereby to causesaid cutter to have a considerable momentum or impetus at the moment ofsevering the twisted wire, substantially as herein set forth.

5. The combination of the said binder-arm jand its operative mechanism,the whirl m,

cutter m, and the wire-guide or carrying-lever a, substantially asdescribed and shown, and

for the purpose specified.

6. The push or delivery arm 1, in combination with the binder-arm andits operating crank t, to which said push -arm is connected, whereby toassist in removing the bound sheaf from-the table, substantially asherein set forth.

7. The combination of parts comprising the said whirl m, the segmentalrack 19, and gearin g for driving the same from or by the shaft f, therotating cutter m, and the wireguide lever u, arranged substantially asdescribed and shown, and operating as and for the purpose specified.

8. The brake for the lower spool, s, consisting of the arm 8 having thecurved bearing end 8 in combination with the arm f 3 on the maindriving-shaft f, and the spring 8 as shown and described.

9. The combination of parts comprising the segmental rack p, the pinion0, arranged to gear with the same, the whirl or twisting deatingarm f onthe main driving-shaft f, in

vice m, the rotating cutter 00, provided with a combination with thesupplemental spring for fly-Wheel z, the Wire-guide lever u, and theinmaintaining a slight continuous pressure on termittent brake 8,applied to the spool s, all the spool, substantially as herein setforth.

arranged as shown, and operating as and for W D the purposis specified"A i1i s% TE riEY BOUSFlELD.

10. The lntermittent brake for the lower spool 8, consisting of the arm8 having the Witnesses:

curved bearing 8 the spring 8 and the oper- J. F. NUTTER, 7

WM, B. TAYLOR.

